August 10 is National Lazy Day. While that might not be something you celebrate, you can bet hashtags and memes about laziness will be shared across social media. “National days” — most of which give recognition to oft-ignored things, issues, or actions — have taken the internet by storm. There are more than 1,500 national days, weeks, and months, and savvy marketers know how … [Read more...]
What’s Missing in Your Video Marketing
That video you created to market your product or services to the masses? You know, the one you spent a heap of money on? It's beautiful, right? It's grabbing, it's just the right length, and it's so-darned convincing you're sure it will boost conversions like nothing else. Right. Perhaps that video is unbelievably stellar. Maybe it will go viral amongst your target … [Read more...]
Google Nixing Tying a Plus Profile Across Services & Channels
Finally. Google is listening. When the search giant forced us to connect a Google+ profile to a YouTube channel, things got difficult. In fact, one client's YouTube channel is still tied to an employee's Google+ account instead of the rightful owner, despite several attempts to disconnect it from the improper account. While Google's move to tie everything together was a good … [Read more...]
CoSchedule: The WordPress Calendar and Social Post Scheduler Everyone Needs
Creating great content is only the first step in attracting visitors and boosting conversions. People have to be informed about the existence blog posts and articles. CoSchedule, an editorial calendar and social media planner for sites running WordPress, saves time and frustration when it comes to getting content seen. I've tried many scheduling tools for blog posts, and … [Read more...]
Question of the Week: Do You Research Quotes about Products?
Many companies rely on quotes from industry experts and publications to help push specific products and/or services. How many of us, however, research those statements to ensure quotes are accurately describing what we're contemplating buying? Last summer I wrote about mis-attributing quotes - a common practice by companies desperate to increase sales. Have you fallen victim … [Read more...]
10 Promo Items That Go Right in the Trash
Part of the fun of attending conferences, conventions and trade shows is the swag*. You know, all the supposedly cool stuff crammed into a bag or handed out at booths. The bulk of it though, goes right in the trash. So, if you're trying to come up with some neat giveaways, keep in mind that many people fly, and don't want to pay luggage fees just to take your branded stuff … [Read more...]
Wait… We All Have Google Profiles?
Google hasn't had much presence in social media. Google Buzz, in my opinion, hasn't done enough for business to make it worth the effort (I do, however, cross-post to Buzz using TweetDeck). Guess how many direct responses I've received to my buzzes? Zero. How many followers do I have? Zero. I was aware of Google Profiles. I just never saw much reason to spend time at yet … [Read more...]
PeC: Volume Discounts – The Right Words to Boost Sales
Websites like Groupon, which allow people to “crowd purchase” products and services from local retailers, are becoming popular, mostly due to current economies. It makes sense for online stores selling items normally used in bulk to offer volume discounts, but what about specialty or high-dollar items? Groupon is proving that there’s power in numbers, and despite many … [Read more...]
Small Biz Needs to See the Big Picture, and Look Beyond
Decades ago children learned about neat toys and gadgets by watching Saturday morning cartoons. Parents learned what was safe and worth their money from key publications like Consumer Reports, as well as from local shop owners. When I was a kid, there was more trust in advertising, and salesmen, though still trained to "push" products, seemed to know more about how things … [Read more...]
Are People Really Liking Your Content?
The Facebook Like button has quickly become a standard. Millions of people are "liking" content all over the web, and some companies are seeing some good returns on the small parcel of real estate the button takes up on the page. With every upside, however, comes downsides. Facebook's social interaction tool is no different. Put aside the folks who simply don't like Facebook - … [Read more...]
Win A Social Web Strategy Makeover
A customized social media campaign and strategy doesn't come cheap. In-depth studies into a company's needs and outline of goals takes time. More so, it takes a great deal of research and planning. So when Mirna Bard told me she was going to give away a $15,000 - $20,000 package, I couldn't help but get excited. I've worked with Mirna. She's gracious, knowledgeable and, best … [Read more...]
What’s Acceptable Content-Lift?
The meat of any web site or online store is the story each page tells. This is primarily conveyed through words, images or video. Creativity is key, but so is rightful ownership and, if syndicated, disclaimer information. Content theft - the act of copying and pasting information from one site to another (without permission) - is not only illegal, it's a good way to lose your … [Read more...]